HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has put out a fresh alert to parents, reminding them to claim Child Benefit.
More than 694,000 parents of teens who are staying in education or approved training extended their Child Benefit claim before the 31 August deadline and will continue to receive their Child Benefit payments, but there are many who don't realise they are eligible, or who have not yet applied.
Child Benefit is worth £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child.
HMRC has written to 1.5 million eligible parents reminding them to extend their Child Benefit claim for their 16 to 19-year-old. The quickest and easiest way to ensure payments continue is to extend via the HMRC app or online through the digital service.
Parents can also scan the QR code in their reminder letter which will take them straight to the digital service.
Parents! Missed the deadline to extend your Child Benefit claim?
— HM Revenue & Customs (@HMRCgovuk) September 6, 2025
No need to call. 📞❌
Let us know if your 16-19 year-old is staying in Full-Time Non Advanced Education online to keep receiving your payments. 👇 https://t.co/Eu0slVBXwD pic.twitter.com/MlwKDCcRog
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, says: “Teenagers can be expensive and Child Benefit is an important source of income for your household. As soon as you know what your teen is doing in September, don’t miss out. You can extend your claim in minutes through the HMRC app or online to ensure your payments continue.”
Child Benefit can continue to be paid for young people who are studying full time in non-advanced education as well as unpaid approved training courses. Visit GOV.UK for a full list of approved courses.
If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For families who fall into this category, the online Child Benefit tax calculator provides an estimate of how much benefit they will receive and what the charge may be.
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Families will soon have the option to use a new digital service to pay the charge directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return.
The new service will cut red tape for eligible employed parents who are liable to the charge. Those who choose to pay through their Self Assessment can continue to do so.
Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments can opt back in and restart their payments quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app.
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